Magnetic recorder



Oct. 28, 1952 T. D. THAD 2,615,989

MAGNETIC RECORDER Filed oct. 2, 1948 5 sheets-sheet 1 IIIII .III

, "D" III I Il I I vill/111411114 1 fnyenar Vf Theodore Thad j d a@ yaM/@s Oct. 28, 1952 T. D. THAD 2,615,989

MAGNETIC RECORDER Filed Oct. 2, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Theodore T/zac Oct. 28, 1952 T. D. THAD 2,615,989

MAGNETIC RECORDER Filed Oct. 2, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig 7 lz a l Patented Oct. 28, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE `2,615,989 MAGNETIC RECORDER Theodore D. Thad, vCook County, Ill., assigner to Morris Weintraub, Newport, Ky. Application October 2, 1948, SeralNo. 52,569 Claims. (Cl. 179-400.523

This invention relates to magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus adapted for use with vending machines.

Many diierent forms of vending machines are employed at the present time, such, for example, as coin operated beverage dispensers, coin operated popcorn delivery machines, as Well as the commonly known candy dispensers.

It is believed that such vending machines lend themselves readily to the exploitation of their own or other products or matters vthrough short audible or visible advertisements rendered concurrently with the vending operation. Such collateral advertising material might Well be monotonous or objectionable if the same material were repeated each time a coin were dropped in the machine. Furthermore, the advertising material should be complete, should start at the beginning, should finish before the machine is shut olf, should be quiet between dispensing operations of the machine, and should automatically index itself.

One of the principal features and objects of this invention is to provide novel magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus which will reliably and efficiently perform the above functions.

It is a further feature and object of the present invention to provide automatic recording and reproducing apparatus of novel construction and which is combined in a novel manner With an associated piece of apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide magnetic vreproducing apparatus controlled by a relay operable under the influence of a signal recorded on the magnetic record member being played by the apparatus.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide magnetic recording Vapparatus controlled by a vacuum tube relay controlled by a signal recorded on the magnetic record member.

Another and still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel magnetic recording and reproducing device employing a novel magnetic record member having a signal thereon which includes both the audible material as Well as a control signal for selectively energizing and de-energizing associated apparatus.

The novel features which l believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization, manner of construction and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof?, may best be 2 understood byreference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a magnetic recorder embodying the novelteachings and lthe principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the magnetic head as Well as the Winding and reeling mechanism of the device shown in Figure l as taken along line II--II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical 'sectional view of the device shown in Figure 1 vas taken along line III-III;

Figure 4 is a bottom fragmentary sectional view as taken along line IV-IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 'is a top view `of the electromagnetic transducer head assembly of the device shown in Figure 1';

.Figure 6 is an elevational View of the head magnet shown in Figure 5 toward the surface thereof over Which the record member passes;

Figure 7 is an elevational View of the head taken at right angles to the view shown in Fig- 'ure 1 showing the cut-away portion in the housing which provides the -path for the magnetic record member;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary diagrammatic View vof the magnetic record 'member with its main and `auxiliary magnetic tracks indicated thereon; and

Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the circuit used in the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus shown in Figure l.

As herein used the term magnetic recorder shall be deemed to refer to magnetic apparatus which is arranged to perform a recording function, a reproducing function, or both.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the various gures of the drawings, a magnetic recorder is shown of the endless loop lsingle reel type. This recorder is composed of three principal 'component parts; namely, an electromagnetic transducer head Il which is arranged to be Aengaged by a magnetic record member I'0, an amplifier A, and a Winding and reeling mechanism for moving the record member It across the lhead H.

The details of the winding and reeling mecha nism have been illustrated in Figures l to 4, and by referring thereto it lWill be observed that the record member I 0 lies in a coil I4 about a plurality of upright rollers I6 Which are supported on a panel |-9 in the form of a circle. A large loop I0. of thegcoled endless record member IG is taken at one end from the innermost layer of the coill and at'the other end from the outermost layer of the coil. This loop I is disposed over the head I I and over a drive spindle I2. A pinch roller I3 presses the record member IB into frictional driving engagement with the drive spindle I2 so that rotation of the drive spindle I2 pulls the record member I0 from the inner part of the coil I4 and over the head II. Since continuous pulling of the record member I5 from the coil I4 at a fixed point, as determined by the roller I6 located at the point of take-olf, will cause rotation of the coil I4, it will be apparent that the other end of the loop III is being continually Wound up on the outer part of the coil I4.

The rollers I6 may conveniently be mounted on the panel IS by means of studs I8 which have a reduced lower end I8 threaded into panel I9. A cover plate 20 is supported on tubular spacers or sleeves 23 and secured to panel I9 by bolts 2l extending through the sleeves 23. Nuts 22 retain the bolts in place. It will thus be observed that a compact magazine is provided 4by the panel I9 and the cover 20.

To enable the record member I0 to be drawn from the inner circumference toward the magnetic head II without interfering with the portion of the moving roll which it must pass, the whole panel I9 is mounted in a slanted position so that the portion of the roll across which the record member I0 is drawn to remove it from the inner layer of coil I4 is lower than the portion of the roll at which the record member is fed back to the outer circumference.

A slot 24 across part of retaining wall or cover 2l! provides a clear path for record member I3 as it leaves the inner circumference of record roll I4 to be drawn past one side of the record roll out of retainer I5 to the magnetic head II.

As shown in Figure l, a portion ofthe retaining wall 20 is cut away for a distance adjacent the region of the slack in record member I 0 (which occurs between drive spindle I2 and the point where the member I0 is returned to the coil I4). A chamfer 25 is provided at the edge of the cut-away portion in retaining wall 20 nearest the point where the record member IB is fed to the outer circumference of roll I4, the chamfer being so made that the inner surface of the retaining wall is cut further back from the sharper or outer edge, thus providing a smooth uninterrupting guide surface for the record member as it is wound on roll I4. Such a chamfer also aids in preventing abrasive action of the record member IU against what ordinarily would be a blunt inner edge on the inner surface of the retaining wall 2li. Circular holes 26 are provided in the retaining wall at each point where heads of bolts I8 are located so that adjustment may be made for friction of the heads of the studs I8 against the sides of rollers I6.

Panel I9, on which retainer I5 is mounted, is held between angle brackets 28 welded to the sides of cabinet 29. Elements of the electrical circuit for the magnetic recorder,V such as tubes, rectiers, transformers and volume control, are conveniently located in the space below panel I9. The record drive spindle I2 is mounted in an upright position in a second panel plate 3l adjacent panel I9 and Vis journaled at each end as shown in Figure 2. The lower journal is provided by bracket 32 extending in a plane parallel to panel plate 3I from bracket spacer 33. Both journal bracket 32 and spacer 33 are secured in fixed position by bolts 34 screwed into threaded mounting holes provided in brackets 32. A friction drive wheel 35 is fixed to one end of drive spindle I2 and is disposed in a position adjacent the lower journal bracket 32 with a thrust washer 36 being provided between the wheel and lower journal. The upper end of drive spindle I2 is surrounded by a tubular housing 31 iixed in an upright position on panel plate 3I with a journal 38 for the end of spindle I2 inserted in the upper end of the tube. A portion of the tube just below the journal 38 is cut away to allow the record member I0 to come into engagement with the drive spindle I2. The cutway portion is made sufficiently large to enable the pinch roll I3 to t within the opening so that it may provide the pressure necessary to create the frictional engagement between the record member and drive spindle.

The pinch roll I3 which is made of resilient friction material, such as rubber formed on a suitable metal core 4I, is rotatably mounted on a vertical spindle 40 which passes through its metal core 4I and which is fixed to one end of pinch roll arm 33. Both pinch roll I3 and retaining washer 4I are held in place by a retaining spring 42 clipped over the top of the pin 4B. The pinch roll arm 38 is held above panel plate 3I by spacer 43 at its pivot point. The pivot for the pinch roll arm is provided by pivot bolt 44 which passes through a hole near the center of the arm and through supporting spacer 43 and is threaded into panel plate 3|. The entire arm with the pinch roll is thus movable about its pivot point, and tension spring 45 stretched between fixed pin 46 mounted in panel plate 3I and engaging hole 41 at the end of the pinch roll arm opposite to that where the pinch roll is mounted, provides the force necessary to bring the pinch roll I3 into pressure engagement against the record member I0.

The drive motor 30, mounted on a pivoted mounting bracket 48, is a conventional type frequently used in driving phonograph equipment and consists of a laminated magnetic yoke 49 with end brackets 50 which provide the bearing support for drive shaft 5I. The motor is mounted with its driving end in an upright position protruding through a hole in bracket 48 so that the driving end of the drive shaft is disposed in a position close to the friction drive wheel 35. The motor is secured to bracket 48 by means of support bolts 52, two of which successively pass through ear holes in end brackets 5I), through the laminations of the magnetic yoke, through motor spacers 63, and then through holes in support bracket 48 where they are held by means of securing nuts 54. Two similar support bolts 52 pass only through the laminations and motor spacing tubes 53 before passing through holes in bracket 48 to be held in position by nuts 54.

Motor support bracket 48, as shown in Figure 3, is pivoted at one end on pivot bolt 55 to allow a slight movement of the bracket 48 so that the drive end of the motor shaft 5I can be moved into position under pressure against the friction surface of friction drive wheel 35 for drive spindle I2. The force required for such pressure engagement is provided by tension spring 58 stretched between fixed pin 59 and engaging ear 6D at one corner of pivoted motor mounting bracket 48. The spring 58 thus exerts a pulling action on motor mounting bracket 48 until the drive end of shaft 5I engages friction drive wheel 35. Motor 3B is energized by field coil 6I. Drive shaft 5I turns drive spindle I2 through friction drive wheel 35. The swinging movement of bracket '48 about pivot isprovided to reducethe need. for exacting tolerances of driving; surfaces and. to enable drive shaft 5| to-.maintain proper engagement with drive wheel 35 as their contacting surfaces ,wear` away. The limitationV in such movementexists in the proportions of a circular spacer 62 which has a small circular neck portion concentric with its axis projecting into an end hole 63 of bracket 4S, the neck portion being smaller in diameter than the diameter of the hole in which it projects. Spacing disks 62 and 64 are held together and secured to panel 3| by a holding screw 65 threaded through their centers. Thus the groove between the two spacing disks 62 and 64 provides a shelf or supporting means for one end of the bracket 48, and the narrow neck portion of spacer 62 allows room for swinging movement of that end of the bracket. The pivot end of bracket 48 is held between two spacer supports 5 and E58 secured in mounted position on panel 3| by pivot bolt 55 threaded through their centers.

The general manner in which cabinet 29 is construoted and held together by bolts 69 threaded into the wall joints is shown in Figures 3 and 4. Supporting angle brackets 28 are also shown slidably supporting panel I9 in slanted position. Panel pla-te 3| is supported by lugs 'l0 riveted to the edges of its under surface so that panel support bolts 7l screwed from outside the enclosure through the enclosure walls may be threaded into lugs i8 to secure the panel plate 3| in horizontal position. Socket base 72 for magnetic head is shown to be a standard type eight lug socket.

Figures 5, 6' and 7 show in greater detail the assembly and construction of magnetic head Two laminated electromagnetic transducer heads I3 and 7A each having a configuration, somewhat like two confronting C-shaped members joined at their centers by a cross member, are disposed one above the other within the housing of the unit. |Two gaps are thus provided in each head, one being an active gap for recording, erasing and picking up material on the record with which the head is associated. Signal coils 82 and 83 are wound on the cross members between the confronting C-shaped members of the main and auxiliary heads 73 and l respectively. A substantial portion of yoke or head I4 is bent down at a slight angle from a point immediately in front of its signal coil 83 -to provide additional room between the two coils 82 and 83 and to prevent leakage flux interaction between them.

The active gaps of each of the transducing heads I3 and lll are aligned one above the other and protrude slightly from their curved nonmagnetic supporting surface mounted within the housing of head opposite the cut-away portion thereof. Leads 84 from the main recording head 73 are connected to a pair of prongs 86 in the base of the unit while -the leads 85 from the smaller recording head are connected to a pair of similar prongs 88. In mounted position, magnetic head I I is plugged into-socket base TZ which thus has only four of its eightlugs in use.

The record member for use with the electromagnetic transducer head assembly is of the tape type and may be made of a cellulose acetate base or apaper coated with magnetiaable material. One entire surface of the tape may be coated, but only the portions thereof which pass over the gaps of the heads 13 and '|4`would be effective as magnetic record tracks. Thesefactve regions :off the-record; member, for convenience. will Vbe:fr eferredjtoasgitracks. As shown 4in Figure 8. both .a wide main; recording track 89 and a narrow controlrecording track 90 are provided correspondingto magnetic headsv 73 and 'i4 respectively- They-main or widery magnetic head 13 is-usedi to record andreproduce audio signals on and from track 89;, while the narrower track 90 and its associated head 14 are used for recording and pickingup control signals or coordinating signalsl for the magnetic recorder when it operatesin. conjunction with other equipment.

When. the deviceY as illustrated is to be used in a vendingmachine co-reproduce a series of selected short energizations, one for each vending operation, longitudinally spaced portions 9| of track 89 are magnetized with the selected programs of bits of advertising to be reproduced. These .spaced magnetized portions of track 89 are diagrammatically suggested in Figure 8.

Each bit or program has associated with it a control signal along .the parallel control track 90. For a reason which will presently be apparent, the -length ofthe region of a control signal along its track is preferably greater than its associated audible program. The control signal thus appears before the program is reached and extends for ashort distance beyond it.

The electrical circuit of the magnetic .recorder of 'Figure l is shown 'in Figure 9 and includes an amplifier and a vacuum tube relay which controls the energization and deenergization of the recorder. The circuit may be easily traced from left to right in the drawing beginning with the two magnetic heads 13 and 14.

One of each of the magnetic heads '53 and lll is connected to ground while the other end of each is connected to plug jacks |0| and |02 respectively. By means of the plug jacks, equipment used in recording material on the record member IE) may be plugged into the circuits for each of the magnetic headsy 'I3 and M to effect such recording. When recording is completed, the plugs arepulled out of the jacks and the playback apparatus or equipment shown in the circuit of Figure 9 is arranged for operation. The circuit has two separate amplifiers making use of a common plate power supply. rEhe output of the amplifier cooperating with magnetic head 13 is connected to a loud speaker. |523 while the output of the amplier cooperating with recorder head 1,4. is connected to a control relay 99. Each amplifier has a triple stage of amplicaticn, the first two stages taking place in a double triode input-amplifier tube and the third` in a final amplifying pentode tube.

When. no plugs are in place in jacks and |82, the signal induced lin magnetic head i3 is vfed directly to a rst control grid of a double triode tube |06. This tube is cathode biased by; connecting its cathode |97 to parallel connected biasing resistor IUS-and by-pass condenser |99 which are grounded at their other terminals.. The. first plate. Il ii associated with grid. |05 is connected to'v the junction of a current-limitingwplat-.e load V'resistance ||I and coupling-.condenser |'|2. for coupling the output signal from the first vplate of tube |99 to second control grid l5. Control grid. ||5 is associated with thie.- second plate |16- connected to the junction betweenplate current limiting resistance t and coupling condenser |.|,'|1 for the third stage of signal amplification. The second control grid |,|.5, of tubelfllt besidesfbeing connected to couplingl Ycondenser |-2=v is: connected. togrid resistance i8 'which has its other terminalgrounded. Both the current limiting plateload resistances and ||4 have their free ends joined to lead |20 which is connected to a suitable plate bias source through a voltage dropping resistance |22 and which is here illustrated as the output lead |23 of a direct current power supply. Filter condensers I2! and |36 are connected between the opposite ends of resistance |22 and ground.

The amplified signal from tube |06 is coupled to a third stage of amplification through coupling condenser I IT which is connected to a voltage dividing input resistance |25. The other end of the voltage dividing resistance |25 is connected to ground, while the variable positioning arm is connected to the control grid |28 of the nal amplifying tube |25.

Tube |26 ampliies the signal fed to its control grid |21 and the amplified signal generated on its plate |33 is fed to the primary winding oi the output transformer |34 which has its other lprimary terminal connected to screen grid 13| and to the plate bias source. Tube |25 is cathode biased by connecting cathode |28 thereof to biasing resistance |29 with its parallel connected bypass condenser |30 which have their other terminals grounded. The suppressor grid |32 is directly connected to cathode |23 in conventional manner. The secondary of the output transformer |34 is connected to a loudspeaker |53 which reproduces the audible signal recorded on the magnetic record member I3 passing over the air gap of magnetic head 13.

Similarly when the narrow track 35 of record member l passes over the air gap of magnetic head 14, the recorded material S2 induces a control signal in the coil 83 which is fed to iirst control grid 235 of double triode tube 206. Tube 201 is cathode biased through cathode biasing resistance 233 connected in parallel with bypass condenser 209 which both have their other terminals connected to ground. Plate 2|0 is connected to the junction point of one terminal of plate current limiting resistance 2|| and coupling condenser 2|2, while plate 2|5 is connected to the junction point of one terminal of plate current limiting resistance 2 4 and coupling condenser 2|'|. The free terminals of current limiting resistance 2|| and 2|4 are then joined and connected to power supply lead |20. The second control grid 2 I 5 receives an amplified signal from plate 2|5 through coupling condenser 2|2. The junction point between control grid 2|5 and coupling condenser 2|2 is connected to ground through grid resistance 2|0. The amplified signal from plate ZIS is fed through coupling condenser 2|? to control grid 221 of the third and iinal stage of amplification in second tube 226 and which tube 22:` forms a part of vacuum tube relay.

The cathode 228 of tube 226 is biased through biasing resistance 229 and by-passing condenser 230 which both have their other terminals connected to ground. A grid resistance 225 is connected between control grid 221 and cathode 228. The suppressor grid 232 is connected Vdirectly to cathode 228, while screen grid 23| is connected to plate 233. The iinal amplified signal from plate 233 of tube 226 is fed to the relay actuating coil 234 which has a condenser 235 connected across its terminals. The other terminal of relay coil 234 is connected to the plate bias lead |23. One convenient form of power supplyis shown which comprises a power transformer |40-which has its primary |4| connected across alternating .cooperate with associated apparatus.

current power Asupply lines |42 and |43. The transformer |40 has two secondary windings, one a grounded center tapped winding |44 which has its end terminals each connected to rectiers |45 and |46 respectively, which are in turn joined at their other terminals to lead |23 in a manner to provide full wave rectification and to furnish a D. C. supply voltage for each or the tubes |06, |26, 206 and 226. Rectiers |45 and |46 may be of any suitable common type, such as copper oxide or selenium plate rectiers.

A second winding is provided on transformer |40 which acts as the filament winding |41. One leg of this winding is grounded and both legs run to each of the tube filaments |60, |6I, |62 and |63 respectively. To prevent undesirable signals from being fed to the amplifier circuits, filter condensers |64 and |65 are connected in series across the primary winding |4I of power transformer |40 and are center tapped to ground, thus providing a filter for voltage supplied by lines |42 and |43.

When record member l0 is driven over the gaps of recording heads '|3 and '54, the cycle of recorded material on the main track 89 is amplied and reproduced in loudspeaker |03 while the control signal recorded on the narrower track is ampliiied and fed to relay coil 34 to pick up movable contact arm 236 of relay |04.

The drive motor 30 is connected to one side of the alternating current power supply, namely, conductor |42, and to terminal |52 on terminal block |50. The other side of the power supply, namely, conductor |43, is connected to terminal I5| on terminal block |50.

The relay |04, in addition to its movable contact 236, is provided with lower and upper stationary contacts 231 and 23B which are connected to terminals |54 and |55 on terminal block |50. Movable contact 236 is connected to terminal |53 on block |50.

A jumper 239 directly connects terminals |5| and |53. A second jumper 240 directly connects terminals |52 and |55.

The movable contact 236 is normally biased against the lower relay contact 23? when the relay is in a deenergized condition. Energization of the relay by now of plate current in the tube 266 picks up contacting arm 236 and moves it izrtso engagement with stationary relay contact The termination of electrical elements on terminal block |50 enables the magnetic recording apparatus to be adapted. to numerous applications in which the recorder may be made to As previously pointed out, the recorder is particularly suited and adapted for use with a coin vending machine, and its operation initiated by dropping acoin inaslot.

The coin operating mechanism of the vending machine forms no part of the present invention, for any conventional form may be used in conjunction with the present apparatus. It is sufcient to point out and diagrammaticaliy show that a-coin operated time delay switch I 56 is connected between terminals I5i and E52 on blcclr |50. Coin operated time delay switches commonly found in vending machines usually remain closed for around eight seconds, or, inother words, lfor a time suflicient to perform the required vending operation.

When a coin 24| is dropped into a slot 242it 'closes vswitch |56 and thus energizesrnotor 30. The ltime'delayswitch should have a sufficient interval during which it is closedtofenable the drive motor 30 to advance therecord member I0 until the next recorded control signal 92 `is reached. As soon as this signalis detected by magnetic head 74, current starts to flow in the plate circuit of tube 226, and since this is in series with relay coil 234 the movable contact 236 of this relay closes against contact 233. Since the relay contacts 236 and 238 parallel'the coin operated switch l, it will be apparent that the motor 30 remains energized as long as relay 234 is energized even though the coin switch 156 opens. As the motor continues to run, the record member l is advanced across the two heads i3 and M. As the track portion 9i having the program or advertisement thereon passes head i3 it is picked up and reproducedthrough speaker |03.

Since the recorded control signal 92 lasts longer than the program 9i, a quiet portion of the track E0 is reached before the relay 234 is deenergized by there being no further control signal on track Opening of the relay contacter arm 230 from its associated stationary contact 238 deenergizes driving motor 30, and travel of the record member is suspended until the nextcoin is dropped in the slot 252. This again closes switch 150 and energizes motor 30 long enough. toradvance record member i0 until the next control signal 32 is reached.

From the above it will be apparent that'the coin switch initiates operation of the recorder drive mechanism but the control signal on the tape acts as the holding circuit therefor and determines the length of the time the recorder continues to operate. Thus successive programs may be of variable length without in any way affecting the operation of the recorder, it simply being necessary to record a control signal of the same, or slightly longer, length than the recorded program.

The free contact point 237 of relay |04 which is connected to terminal 154 of the terminal |50 may be used in the switching of associated apparatus at times when relay contactor arm is in its lower position. Thus material recorded on the main recording track 09 of record member i0 will be reproduced for a period governed by the length of the control signal on track 90, and steps of operation in an associated piece of apparatus may be initiated or terminated at the same instant when control signals on track 90 energizes or deenergizes relay |04.

While I have shown the relay |04 as being energized from a separate control signal, it will be realized from the foregoing description that if the recorded program QI does not have any appreciable periods of silence, the relay coil 234 may be connected in the plate circuit of tube W0 and the use of a separate control signal dispensed with. It has been found in practice, however, that most advertising material is of such a character that a separate control signal is highly desirable.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and I therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall in the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. A magnetic recorder comprising a pair of electromagnetic transducer heads each having an output circuit connected thereto, a magnetic tape record member having a recorded audio signal on predetermined por-tions thereof and a recorded control signal on predetermined por-- tions thereof in parallel spaced relation to said audio signal portion and at least coeXtensive therewith, winding and reeling mechanism for movingsaid record member at substantially uniiorm velocity across said heads, means for energizing said winding and reeling mechanism, a first switch in series with the energizing means, an auxiliary circuit connected in parallel with said first switch and havingrk a second switch therein, means operable by the reprodutcion of the-control signal to close said second switch, whereby said first switch may be closed to initiate operation ofV said winding and reeling mechanism and whereby-said second switchwill thereafter remain closed to continue energization of said winding and reeling mechanism as long as said recorded control signal portion of said. record member is traveling over its associated head.

2. A magnetic recorder comprising a pair of electromagnetic transducer heads each having an output circuit connected thereto, a magnetic tape record member having a plurality of different recorded programs magnetically recorded thereon over longitudinally spaced regions of said record membenvsaid record member also having a continuous recorded control signal onr longitudinally spaced portions of said record member and in parallel spaced relation to said programs there being a control signal portion opposite each recordedprogram and each control signal extending beyond each end of the recorded program portion, winding and reeiing mechanism for moving said record member at substantially uniform velocity across saidv head, means for energizing said winding and reeling mechanism, a first switch in series With the energizing means, an auxiliary circuit connected in parallel with said first switch and having a second switch therein, means operable by the reproduction of the control signal to close said second switch, whereby said first switch may be closed to initiate operation of said winding and reeling mechanism and whereby said second switch will thereafter remain closed to continue energization of said winding and reeling mechanism until after the recorded program associated with that particular recorded signal portion has been completed. I i J 3. A magnetic recorder comprising an electromagnetic transducer head having an output circuit connected thereto, a magnetic record member having a recorded signal on predetermined portions thereof, winding and reeling mechanism for moving said record member at substantially uniform Velocity across said head, said winding and reeling mechanism having an energizing circuit with a relay controlled switch therein, an auxiliary circuit connected in parallel with said relay switch and having a time delay switch therein, the time delay oi' said time delay switch being substantially shorter than the time required for the recorded signal portion of said record member to cross said head, a relay for said relay switch in the output circuit or' said head, whereby said second switch may be closed to initiate operation of said winding and reeling mechanism and whereby said relay switch will thereafter remain closed to continue energization of said winding and reeling mechanism as long as the recorded signal portion of said record member is traveling over said head.

4. In combination in magnetic recording apparatus a magnetic unit having two electromagnetic transducing heads, a record member having a pair of recorded channels, one of said channels having audio signals recorded thereon and the other of said channels having a control signal recorded thereon, each of said channels being in operative engagement with one of said transducing heads, an amplifier for audio frequency signals picked up by one of said transducer heads and an electromechanical transducer for reproducing said signals as sound, an amplier of control signals picked up by the other of said electromagnetic transducer heads and a relay operated by said amplified signals, a drive motor for said recording device, a source of alternating current power, said drive motor in series with said relay, and means connecting said series connected elements across said power supply whereby said motor is energized at said times when said relay is operated.

5. In combination in a vending machine, a magnetic recording device comprising a magnetic unit having two electromagnetic transducer heads, a magnetic record member having a pair of recorded channels thereon, one of said channels having audio frequency signals thereon and the other channel having control signals thereon, each of said channels being in operative engage'- ment with one of said transducer heads, an amplifier for audio frequency signals picked up by one of said electromagnetic transducer heads, an electromechanical transducer for reproducing said signals as sound, an amplier for control signals picked up by the other of said electromagnetic transducer heads, a drive motor for said recording device, a source of alternating current power, a coin-operated switch, timedelay means including a relay connected in par- 12 allel with said switch and in series with said motor, means connecting the output of the control signal amplier to said relay to control operation of said relay, means connecting said motor across said power supply whereby a coin dropped into said coin-operated switch will close said switch and energize said motor for a period until control signals are picked up by the other of said electromagnetic transducer heads to energize said relay.

THEODORE D. THAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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